MANILA, Philippines – Naglabas ng paglilinaw si Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. sa nauna nitong pahayag na makagagamot sa mental health issues ang Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).
Ito ay makaraang makatanggap ito ng samu’t saring batikos hindi lamang sa mga netizens kundi maging sa mga propesyonal sa larangan ng psychology.
“We have learned of the sensitivities raised by our mental health practitioners and advocates on what they believe is the improper use at the Senate hearing on Monday, February 6, of the word ‘cure’ for mental health issues,” pahayag ni Galvez nitong Lunes ng gabi, Pebrero 6.
“We fully understand and appreciate their concerns, as mental health is an issue that affects the broadest spectrum of society. We would therefore like to address certain misconceptions which have surfaced and clarify our agency’s position regarding this matter,” dagdag pa niya.
Nilinaw ni Galvez na ang ibig niyang sabihin patungkol sa ROTC program ay ang pagpapalakas nito at pagbibigay ng resilience sa mga kabataan, na pinaniniwalaan niyang may positibong epekto sa mental health ng mga ito.
“What we intended to convey during the hearing was that through our enhanced ROTC Program, we would be able to build the strength of character and resilience of our trainees, qualities which positively foster mental health,” aniya.
“Further, as a policy and program of the national government, the ROTC Program aims to develop among the trainees the basic psychosocial support competencies that are crucial in responding to stressful situations and contexts,” dagdag ni Galvez.
Iginiit din niya na nais ng DND na ang bubuoin na ROTC program ay naidisenyo upang magpalakas sa resilience, self-leadership, character-building, at disiplina ng mga estudyante.
“We believe these are virtues that our trainees must cultivate not only for their personal growth and development as individuals, but more importantly, enable them to play a key role in building a just, humane and democratic society,” sinabi pa niya. RNT/JGC
